One-piece measuring and dispensing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A measuring and dispensing apparatus molded in one piece for placement in a neck of a flexible wall container is provided. The apparatus has side walls with an opening, a base wall, an open top and an upstanding central member which contains a central bore and side or lateral discharge ports for directing the flow of liquid at an angle offset from the axis of the central upstanding member.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is directed to making a one-piece measuring anddispensing apparatus suitable for placement in a neck of a conventionalflexible wall container. The apparatus has an upstanding central memberwith a central bore and an outlet orifice formed therein, side walls, abase wall, and an open top. The outlet orifice has at least one side orlateral discharge port which directs the flow of liquid from the bore atan angle offset from the axis of the bore. The method of making theapparatus involves molding the apparatus utilizing mold halves to form amold cavity in conjunction with a center core pin and retractableorifice pins.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of a measuring and dispensing apparatus in the form of ameasuring cup or chamber positioned in a neck of a flexible wallcontainer is known in the art. Such apparatus generally contains withinits structure a bore and a discharge port in communication with thebore. Liquid is charged through the bore and port into a reservoir areacontained in the measuring and dispensing apparatus. The position of thedischarge port determines the manner in which the liquid flows into thereservoir. Discharge ports positioned at a side angle to the reservoirarea are preferred over ports which discharge liquid straight upwardinto the reservoir, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,402,860, since sidedischarge ports avoid the splashing or wastage of the liquid whichresults when a liquid squirts upward.

The one-piece prior art devices utilizing a side discharge port,however, required that the bore be formed in the side wall of themeasuring chamber and, accordingly, only one discharge port could beused. If a central upstanding member with side discharge ports wasutilized, the measuring chamber had to be made in two pieces. Whether acostly manufacturing process is utilized or not to make the multi-partstructure, the assembly of the parts is very costly. Injection moldingmethods presently known in the art do not provide a means of formingdischarge ports in the side of a central upstanding member due to theproximity of the side walls of the measuring chamber to the side wallsof the central upstanding member. Pins cannot be utilized to form theside discharge ports since no room is present in which to withdraw thepins following a molding operation.

For example, French Patent No. 1,395,827 shows a measuring chamber inFIG. 3 which has a central upstanding member with a single dischargeport. The method of making the chamber is not shown. However, it wouldnot be by injection molding as in the present invention due to thestructure of the discharge port. The port structure in the side wallallows the liquid dispensed through the bore to squirt straight up sincethe port is not fully positioned beneath the top surface of theupstanding member.

Donoghue, U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,547, discloses a measuring chamber with acentral upstanding member having a plurality of side discharge portsformed therein. However, due to the close proximity of the side walls ofthe measuring chamber to the central upstanding member, the side portscould not be formed by injection molding if a onepiece measuring chamberwas to be produced. Accordingly, the measuring chamber described iscomposed of two parts.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,599,446 and 2,743,849 disclose measuring chamberinserts for sealing a container neck. The inserts, however, require thebore to be in one side of the chamber insert rather than in the centerof the insert. Only one discharge port can be used with each of thestructures described thereby limiting the amount of liquid discharged atone time.

It is also noted that U.S. Pat. No. 2,599,446 teaches the use of adownward angle with the discharqe port for directing liquid through theport and into the recess of the measuring chamber.

Accordingly, the art does not teach a one-piece injection moldedmeasuring and dispensing apparatus with a central upstanding memberhaving discharge ports formed in the side walls of the upstanding memberor a method of making such a one-piece apparatus by injection molding.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a method ofmaking by molding a one-piece measuring and dispensing apparatus havingside or lateral discharge ports in a central upstanding member fordirecting a flow of liquid at an angle offset from the axis of theupstanding member.

A further primary object of the present invention is to provide a methodof making a one-piece measuring and dispensing apparatus by molding,utilizing retractable orifice pins in conjunction with mold halves and acenter core pin.

A further primary object of the present invention is to provide a methodof making a one-piece measuring and dispensing apparatus which iseconomical and simple in operation.

A further primary object is to provide a one-piece injection moldedmeasuring and dispensing apparatus having a central upstanding membercontaining one or more side discharge ports.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a flexible wall container having ameasuring and dispensing apparatus of the present invention positionedin its neck;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the flexible wall container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the neck of the containerand the measuring and dispensing apparatus positioned therein asillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary alternative embodiment of the measuring anddispensing apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating still anotheralternative embodiment of the measuring and dispensing apparatus of theinvention;

FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment wherein the lateraldischarge ports are at a slight angle;

FIG. 7 illustrates the position of the mold pins when molding themeasuring and dispensing apparatus according to the present invention;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are fragmentary cross-sectional views showing anembodiment utilizing an integral plug structure with the measuring anddispensing apparatus for sealing the pin holes which are formed in theside walls of the metering chamber during the molding operation; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing a portion of ashrink-wrap for sealing the pin holes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention involves a one-piece measuring and dispensingapparatus in the form of an open top chamber or cup which is suitablefor placement in a neck of a flexible wall container and a method ofmaking the apparatus.

The measuring and dispensing apparatus, hereinafter referred to as ameasuring chamber, has side walls, a base wall, an open top, and acentral upstanding member with a bore formed along its central axis forreceiving a tube means. The top portion of the side walls of theupstanding central member have side or lateral discharge ports formedtherein to direct the flow of liquid received through the tube means andbore out of the upstanding member at an angle offset from the axis ofthe upstanding member. The top wall of the upstanding member is solid,i.e. closed, thereby not providing an outlet to the liquid and forcingthe liquid to exit through the lateral discharge ports.

To dispense liquid which is held in a container having the measuringchamber of the present invention positioned in its neck, the flexiblewalls of the container are squeezed forcing the liquid up through thetube means and bore through the side discharge ports into a recess orreservoir area of the measuring chamber. The side location and number ofthe discharge ports allows for a controlled release of the liquid intothe recess of the measuring chamber. The side discharge ports arepreferably positioned at a 90° angle or less to the axis of the centralupstanding member. When the angle of the discharge ports is less than90°, the ports are inclined downwardly in the direction of the base wallof the measuring chamber.

The method of making the above-described measuring chamber is preferablyby injection molding utilizing an upper and lower mold half to form amold cavity which substantially defines the shape of the measuring anddispensing apparatus to be formed. A center core pin is raised orinserted through the center of the bottom of the lower mold half to formthe bore which is present in the upstanding central member of themeasuring chamber. Thereafter, orifice pins, which are utilized to formthe lateral discharge ports, are advanced into the mold until they abutthe center core pin. After the pins are in position, the mold cavity isfilled with a plastic and the plastic allowed to set. The orifice pinsare then retracted. When the orifice pins are fully retracted, the moldhalves are opened and the molded measuring chamber removed therefrom.The center core pin is pulled down and away from the molded product whenthe lower mold is moved down during the opening of the molds. The moldedproduct is then ready for use.

As stated, the lateral discharge ports in the central upstanding memberare preferably formed at an angle of 90° or less to the axis of thecentral upstanding member to control the flow of liquid therethroughduring the forcing of liquid into the measuring chamber reservoir. Theangle of the ports is determined by the angle at which the orifice pinsabut the center core pin during the molding operation. The orifice pinshould preferably lie flat against the center core pin to produce asolid, unobstructed and smooth passageway between the bore and themeasuring chamber recess.

When the measuring and dispensing apparatus is placed in the neck of aflexible wall container, the side walls of the container neck serve toseal the holes formed in the side walls of the measuring chamber by theorifice pins during the molding operation. Alternatively, a button orplug can be integrally molded with the side walls of the orifice andutilized to seal the holes formed by the orifice pins. A furtheralternative for sealing the holes formed by the orifice pins, if themeasuring chamber is not to be fully inserted in a container neck, isthrough the use of a shrink band as shown in FIG. 10 or a rigidencircling member as shown in FIG. 4 around the exterior of themeasuring chamber side walls.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like features,FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a flexible wall container 2 having a threadedfinish 4 around the neck 5 of the container. The measuring anddispensing apparatus or chamber 6 is placed or inserted into neck 5 ofcontainer 2. Tube means 8 extends from the measuring chamber 6 into thecontainer 2.

As best shown in FIG. 3, measuring chamber 6 is formed having side walls10, base wall 12, central upstanding member 14 which has a bore 9 alongits central axis structured to receive tube means 8, and an open top.Upstanding member 14 preferably has tapered side walls and as depictedin FIG. 3 contains a step area 11 at the interior of its side walls sothat tube means 8 cannot extend up the entire length of the bore.Additionally, step area 11 controls the bottom length of the tube whichextends into the container.

Formed in the upper portion of upstanding member 14, above the top oftube means 8, is at least one side or lateral discharge port 16a whichserves to direct the flow of liquid from tube means 8 and bore 9 out ofupstanding member 14 at an angle offset from the axis of upstandingmember 14 into the recess or reservoir area 18 of measuring chamber 6.While upstanding member 14 can contain only one lateral discharge port,the preferred number of ports is two. This results in a more efficientdischarge and fill rate of recess 18.

The side or lateral discharge ports 16a are preferably formed inupstanding member 14 at a 90° angle to the central axis of member 14 orat a downward incline in the direction of the base wall 12 of themeasuring chamber, i.e. at less than a 90° angle to the central axis ofmember 14, as shown in FIG. 6. This serves to direct the liquid beingdispensed in a controlled manner into recess 18 thereby avoiding havingthe liquid splash or squirt out of the measuring chamber. This insuresneat and efficient filling and avoids wastage of the liquid and thespilling of liquid on the user or surrounding area.

FIG. 3 illustrates side or lateral discharge ports 16a positioned at a90° angle to the central axis of upstanding member 14. FIG. 6illustrates a measuring chamber having lateral discharge ports 16bformed with a downward slope, i.e less than a 90° angle. It is notedthat openings 22a and 22b of FIGS. 3 and 6 respectively will have acorresponding angle and be in alignment with ports 16a and 16b. Openings22a and 22b are described further below in relation to the method ofmaking the apparatus of the present invention.

Preferably, as best shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, side walls 10 aretapered so that the lower portion of the measuring chamber is narrowerin width than the upper portion. Such a side wall structure allows forclearance 20 between the side walls of the measuring chamber and theside walls of the container neck thereby making it easier to place themeasuring chamber by insertion or pushing into a container neck. Theupper portion of the measuring chamber, due to its enlarged width ascompared with the width of the lower portion of the measuring chamber,results in a tight seal by friction fit between it and the neck wall ofthe container. This friction fit locks the measuring chamber in the neckand forms a seal between the neck and the measuring chamber therebypreventing leakage of liquid from the container or removal of themeasuring chamber by simply inverting the container. Such a friction fitalso serves to seal openings 22a and 22b as further described below.

To further secure the measuring chamber in place within the neck of aflexible wall container and to further insure a tight liquid seal, thetop of side walls 10 can be structured to sealingly attach to the top ofcontainer neck 5. In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the topof side walls 10 are formed to include an outwardly projecting ledge 24which engages the top 26 of the container neck. The projecting ledge canalso be formed to include a downturned portion 28, as shown in FIG. 3,which serves to lock the measuring chamber on the neck 5 of thecontainer 2. When the locking structure of the alternative embodiment asshown in FIG. 3 is utilized, the top 29 of the container neck will havea shape complementary to locking portion 28.

The presently preferred method of making the measuring chamber describedabove having lateral discharge ports 16a or 16b formed in upstandingmember 14 is by injection molding utilizing a pair of mold halves, toprovide a molding cavity, in conjunction with pins.

The measuring chamber is preferably made from a plastic material such aspolyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene or polyethyleneterephthalate. The plastic is preferably translucent or transparent toallow the user of a container having the measuring chamber placedtherein to see through the side walls and thereby see the amount ofliquid being measured into the measuring chamber. The plastic, however,can also be opaque and the user look into the measuring chamber throughthe top opening of the measuring chamber in order to view the amount ofliquid being measured.

The measuring chamber as described above is made utilizing conventionalmolding apparatus and techniques. One method is shown in FIG. 7. Themold comprises upper mold half 30 and lower mold half 32. The upper andlower mold halves when closed form a mold cavity 31 which substantiallydefines the shape of measuring chamber 6. During the closing of theupper and lower mold halves, center core pin 34 is raised into the moldcavity to form the area resulting in bore 9 of upstanding member 14.Center core pin 34 will be shaped accordingly to form a bore with a step11 which positions tube means 8.

Thereafter, orifice pins 36 and 38 are advanced through openings 33 and35 in the sides of the upper and lower mold halves 30 and 32 until theorifice pins abut the center core pin 34. The timing of the machinecycle of the molding apparatus is utilized to advance the orifice pinsinto place. As illustrated in FIG. 7, two lateral discharge ports areformed. The number of orifice pins utilized can be varied, however, tocorrespond to the number of lateral discharge ports desired. Further,the ports formed as illustrated in FIG. 7, due to the angle of theabutment of the orifice pins to the core pin, will be formed at a 90°angle to the central bore 9 of upstanding member 14 as shown in FIG. 3,or at a downwardly inclined angle, i.e. having an angle of less than90°, as shown in FIG. 6. In the latter case, the ends of orifice pins 36and 38 which abut central core pin 34 are preferably slanted to insure aflat abutment of the orifice pins to the core pin so as to provide theformation of a solid, unobstructed and smooth passageway from bore 9through discharge ports 16b to further insure an efficient flow ofliquid through upstanding member 14. It is understood that when theorifice pins are positioned at an angle to the center core pin, thatpassages 33 and 35 will be formed to slope accordingly in mold halves 30and 32.

Following placement of the core pin and orifice pins, plastic isinjected by a conventional means through passage 40 into the mold cavity31. After the cavity has been filled and the plastic has been allowed toset, the machine cycle operates to retract orifice pins 36 and 38. Whenthe orifice pins are fully retracted, sensors present in the moldingapparatus will signal or serve to activate a switch so that upper andlower mold halves 30 and 32 open automatically. Thereafter, a stripperplate as known in the art (not shown) and/or knock out pins 42 areutilized to remove the finished molded measuring chamber from moldhalves 30 and 32. The center core pin does not have to be retracted inthe manner of the orifice pins since when the lower mold half is moveddownward to open the mold halves, the center core pin is also pulleddown and thereby away from the molded product.

The orifice pins used in the above-described molding process to form thelateral discharge ports 16a and 16b of measuring chamber 6 are of astandard taper reamer size, such as a 2/3° taper, or a straight wall pincan be used. Passages 33 and 35, through which the orifice pins move,have a diameter suitable for receiving the orifice pins in a slidingrelationship.

Due to the manner of placement of the orifice pins in forming lateraldischarge ports 16a and 16b, openings 22a and 22b are formed in the sidewalls 10 of measuring chamber 6. As described above, openings 22a and22b are sealed when the measuring chamber is inserted into the neck 5 ofa container by the friction fit between the upper portion of side walls10 of the measuring chamber and the side walls of the container neck.

In the alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the base 12 of themeasuring chamber has a downward projection 44 formed as a part thereof.Projection 44 is spaced inward from side wall 10 to form a ledge 46.This structure allows measuring chamber 6 to sit on the top 26 of thecontainer neck 5. Downward projection 44 extends inside container neck 5to guide the measuring chamber into position on neck 5 and to maintainthe measuring chamber in place against the neck. Projection 44 providesa friction fit between the measuring chamber 6 and the container neck 5.A rigid encircling member or collar 48 as shown in FIG. 4, oralternatively, a shrink band 60 as conventionally known in the art andshown in FIG. 10, is then positioned or formed around measuring chamber6 and container neck 5. The collar or band thereby acts as an extensionof the container neck and seals openings 22a or 22b. A light weightflexible cover 52 can be utilized to close the open top of the measuringchamber. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 5-6, a conventionalcontainer cap which seals the mouth of the container neck utilizingthreads 4 serves to also close the top of measuring chamber 6.

The alternative embodiment for sealing openings 22a or 22b of measuringchamber 6 illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 utilizes an integrally moldedsealing plug or button 54. Plug 54 is attached to the side wall 10 ofmeasuring chamber 6 by flexible hinge 56. In use, plug 54 is twistedabout hinge 56 and inserted into an opening 22a to seal opening 22a byfriction fit. Due to the slight projection of plug 54 along side wall 10of measuring chamber 6, this alternative embodiment is preferablyutilized with a measuring chamber structure such as described inreference to FIG. 4, i.e. where the side wall of the measuring chamber,or at least the portion containing the plug therein, is positioned abovethe top of the container neck.

In operation (which is identical in all embodiments of the invention),the measuring chamber 6 is placed in the neck of a flexible wallcontainer 2. Tube means 8, which is connected to the measuring chamber,is of a length sufficient to reach from its upper end positioned in bore9 of upstanding member 14 to a point proximate the base of container 2.The user squeezes the flexible walls of the container to displace aliquid therefrom through tube means 8 and bore 9 in upstanding member 14and out lateral discharge ports 16a or 16b into recess area 18 of themeasuring chamber. When the user releases the pressure being applied tothe flexible walls of container 2, the liquid flow will cease. Thus, theuser is able to accurately dispense the desired amount of liquid fromthe container into the measuring chamber. It will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that if the volume of liquid dispensed from container2 into recess 18 of measuring chamber 6 is in excess of the volume inthe measuring chamber, that the excess liquid will be sucked back intocontainer 2 through lateral discharge ports 16a or 16b when the pressureis released from the flexible walls of the container. Accordingly, thepositioning and angle of the lateral discharge ports 16a or 16b inconjunction with the width and length of the measuring chamber,determine the maximum amount of liquid held in the measuring chamberbefore it is dispensed. The liquid is then dispensed from the measuringchamber by tilting or inverting container 2 to pour the liquid outthrough the open top of the measuring chamber.

As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, various modifications canbe made within the scope of the aforesaid description. Suchmodifications being within the ability of one skilled in the art form apart of the present invention and are embraced by the appended claims.

It is claimed:
 1. A one-piece injection molded measuring an dispensingapparatus for placement in the neck of a flexible wall containercomprising(a) side walls with at least one opening formed therein; (b) abase wall attached to one end of said side walls; (c) a centralupstanding member attached to and extending upward through the center ofsaid base wall into an area within said side walls, said centralupstanding member containing a bore along its central axis and at leastone discharge port in its side walls which is in alignment with said atleast one opening contained in said side walls of said apparatus, saidbore being in communication with said at least one discharge port and anarea outside said base wall; and (d) an open top.
 2. The one-pieceinjection molded measuring and dispensing apparatus according to claim 1wherein said at least one discharge port is at a 90° angle to said bore.3. The one-piece injection molded measuring and dispensing apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein said at least one discharge port isinclined toward said base wall of said apparatus.
 4. The one-pieceinjection molded measuring and dispensing apparatus of claim 1 whereinsaid at least one opening in said apparatus side walls is sealed by oneof a friction fit between said container neck or an extension of saidcontainer neck and said apparatus side walls.
 5. The one-piece injectionmolded measuring and dispensing apparatus according to claim 1 whereinsaid at least one opening in said apparatus side walls is sealed byintegrally molded plugs.
 6. The one-piece injection molded measuring anddispensing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said at least oneopening in said apparatus side walls is sealed by a rigid memberencircling said apparatus side walls.
 7. The one-piece injection moldedmeasuring and dispensing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said atleast one opening in said apparatus side walls is sealed by a shrinkband.